Are you a scientist, engineer, or researcher interested in turning your innovative research into a startup? Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory is accepting applications for its two-year fellowship supporting entrepreneurs developing breakthrough science and energy technologies.
Most of our applicants are currently researchers at universities (graduate students, postdocs). Applications are now open and will close at 5 p.m. CT, October 30th, 2026.
CRI’s two-year fellowship provides early-stage startup founders with financial support, access to world-class research facilities, and scientific and business mentorship to develop science and energy technologies into a viable business. CRI/DOE take no equity in participating companies, allowing founders to retain ownership and bring innovations more quickly to market.
Highlights of the Program
● Two-year fellowship includes $115k per year stipend
● Healthcare benefits with family option
● Travel allowance up to $12k per year plus moving expenses
● Research funding for technical work
● Connection to technical experts, researchers, facilities, and the unique capabilities at Argonne National Laboratory
● Networking with business experts, investors, mentors, and corporate partners
● Neither DOE nor Argonne take an equity stake
Ideal Candidates:
Our ideal candidates are working on deep tech with an energy or science focus. They do not need to have an incorporated startup yet, however, if they do it must be registered in the U.S. and cannot have more than $2M in private sector funding at the time of application to CRI. All candidates must move to (or already be located in) the Chicago-area for two years to embed at Argonne. CRI innovators must be either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents when they apply.
Priority Technology Areas Include:
· Advanced Technologies for Domestic Critical Mineral Extraction, Midstream Processing, and Recycling
· Innovations in Manufacturing and Scale-up for Energy Applications
· Next-generation Technologies for Industrial Competitiveness
· Next-Generation Building Technologies
· Cutting Edge Energy Generation and Power Management Technologies
· Advanced Transportation Technologies
· Advanced Fuel and Feedstock technology
· Battery Technologies for Dual-Use Applications
· Water Power Technologies
· Data Center Energy Technologies
· AI and Advanced Computing Technologies
· Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Technologies
· Platform technologies to advance scientific research
· Transmission and Distribution Technologies
· Grid Information Security
· Grid Energy Storage
· Nuclear Energy Technologies
· Fusion Energy Technologies
· Oil and Gas Technologies
· Coal Technologies
· Geothermal Technologies
· Cyber and Energy Security
· Other technologies that further the DOE’s mission of ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy and nuclear challenges.
The program’s success is notable. Innovators from our previous 10 cohorts have created more than 700 jobs and raised $732M in funding. CRI is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program, one of four ‘nodes’ located at national labs across the U.S.
See posting in Handshake- https://duke.joinhandshake.com/edu/jobs/11647036
